MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — With the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships just two weeks away, Saint Mary’s University swimming and diving coach Eric Lindquist knew the importance of this weekend’s Minnesota Challenge.
It was the perfect opportunity for his teams to get in one final competition in a two-day setting that would give them a little taste of what’s to come when they compete over three days at the conference championships.
And, it was one last chance for some of the Cardinals to post conference-qualifying times.
And the Cardinals didn’t disappoint.
“This was a great meet for us,” said Lindquist, noting that the Cardinals were not only going up against some of the top teams in the MIAC — St. Thomas, Gustavus, Carleton and St. Olaf — but also some of the top teams in the NCAA, including host University of Minnesota, Illinois and South Dakota State. “To go up against teams of that caliber, it always helps push us.”
Tim Tysk (St. Paul, Minn.) and
John Fox (Winona, Minn.) got things rolling for the Cardinals in the two-day meet, posting times of 22.57 and 22.87 in the 50 freestyle — an event that had 117 competitors. Fox added an impressive time of 1:02.72 in the 100 breaststroke and Tysk recorded a 50.56 in the 100 freestyle.
Tom Walsh (Prior Lake, Minn.) added a time of 1:00.97 in the 100 butterfly, while
Mark Ross (Dubuque, Iowa) stopped the clock in 56.44 in the 100 backstroke and 2:01.41 in the 200 backstroke, and
Neil Heacox (San Diego, Calif.) posted a time of 2:27.29 in the 20 breaststroke.
Liz Flynn (Mahtomedi, Minn.) highlighted the women’s effort with her 161.05 total in the one-meter diving. Gracia Brigman chipped in a 2:09.22 in the 200 freestyle, while
Christina Borg (Spring Lake Park, Minn.) touched the wall in 1:24.73 in the 100 breaststroke.
Courtney Keyler (Shorewood, Minn.) recorded a 1:07.37 in the 100 backstroke, while
Jennifer Salzman (Hilo, Hawaii added a 59:05 in the 100 freestyle.
Complete Minnesota Challenge Results